URBAN SURVIVAL
Wouldn’t it be great to have money to pay all the bills when they
fall due? To have money for life’s luxuries like overseas holidays?
To have a healthy savings account? Of course it would!
Unfortunately many of us are performing a complicated juggling
act week to week in an attempt to put food on the table, petrol in
the car, pay rent, school, sport and medical expenses. Balancing
the budget can be stressful and an almost impossible task.
Over twenty years of raising a family on one very modest income,
I have learned a few great ways of being a miser and stretching
my dollar further. Let’s be real now; the terms ‘cheapskate’, ‘lousy’,
‘op-shop queen’, ‘bargain betty’, ‘tightwad’, or ‘roadside rummager’
may also be brandished about, but I will happily wear those labels
with pride when it comes to parting with hard earned cash. I am
going to share with you in this and future issues some of my HOT
tips and tricks for saving money on everything from food and
furnishings and even getting stuff for FREE.
Let’s start with food. You may already be aware of some of
these tips; however, are you implementing them?
1. Do an audit of your pantry, fridge and freezer. Make
a list of all the good stuff you have in there. This will
help with Tip 2.
Hint: this is also a perfect time to rid yourself of those
experiments you have been growing in the fridge.
2. Plan your meals. This is a sure-fire way to save money, especially if you begin to use the food you already
have. No more, “what do I feel like tonight?” daily
whimsical supermarket purchases or rushed take away
dinners.
Hint: This can be a really fun challenge. Why not try;
‘No Meat Monday’, ‘Wacky Wednesday” using only items
already in the pantry or fridge/freezer, or if you want save
some serious money take the $21 challenge. See http://
www.simplesavings.com.au/21dollarchallenge. I have
three copies of the $21 Challenge book to give away. All
you have to do to be in the draw is share your best money
saving tip on the SALT Central Coast facebook page.
3. Take your lunch to work (or TAFE, Uni). HUGE
potential savings here, often more than $50 a week.
4. Drink more water. Not only are there numerous health
benefits, but it is free from the tap (well almost free).
By reducing your coffee, cordial, soft drink, flavoured
milk and packaged juice intake, you will save. One
600ml soft drink per day @ $3.80 = $26.60
5. Eat your leftovers. This may seem obvious, however,
I feel the need to mention this one as I am constantly
surprised by the number of people I speak to who
refuse to eat leftovers from last night’s dinner. Retrain
yourself or find some new inventive way to rework
them and challenge your inner Masterchef !
You can pay less for groceries, meat and fruit and veg. Here’s
how:
1. Find out when your local supermarket reduces their
‘close to use by date’ stock and you will pick up great
bargains. Some supermarkets do this on Sundays; others
I have found do so Monday morning. I buy the majority
of my meat this way saving 40 – 60% off the regular price.
Stick to the rules of only buying what you can reasonably
consume before it is out of date or, items you can freeze.
2. Buy fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables at the farm
gate or at one of the many farmers’ markets across
the Coast. There are some great roadside farmer’s
barrows around Peats Ridge, Mangrove Mountain. I
shop at Sciberras Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Kulnura.
www.sciberrasfresh.com.au Amazing prices and super
fresh produce. You will save 30% - 50% on your usual
supermarket spend. If you can’t get up the mountain or
to a farmers’ market then shop at your local greengrocer who sells locally grown produce. They will pass
on the savings and importantly they are supporting local
business. Try Chapman’s Quality Fruits at Wyoming.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chapmans-Quality-Fruits/752617198093476
3. Grab some bargains at direct-to-the-public factory
shops right here on the Coast. Inghams Chicken at
Lisarow sell fresh and value added poultry products.
Look out for bulk packs and factory downgrades. Downgrades are great eating they may just not be perfectly cut
or crumbed. Sara Lee at Niagara Park has a large range
of ‘not quite perfect’ frozen cakes, desserts and quiches
from individual muffins to catering size packs and they
are still super scrumptious. Save up to 60% off retail
prices at both these outlets.
4. Join with friends, family or work mates and buy in
bulk. Alternatively join Peninsula Environment Group
(PEG) or Food Integrity Group (FIG) organic food
buying co-operatives located in Woy Woy and Ourimbah
respectively. http://www.peninsulaenvironmentgroup.
org/food-network-2/ http://figco-op.blogspot.com.au/
5. For those who find themselves in tough times, there
are a number of places across the Central Coast where
you can receive assistance with a food hamper or have
a free meal.
Woy Woy Peninsula free lunch time meals are available
weekdays at Mary Macs Place, 100 Blackwall Rd Woy
Woy. https://www.facebook.com/marymacsplace
Gosford – Coast Shelter 346 Mann St, Nth Gosford offer
free lunch and evening meals Mon – Sat, breakfast only
Sunday. Food hampers are also available.
http://coastshelter.org.au
The Entrance - The Guiding Light run by central Coast
Outreach Services Theatre Lane, The Entrance provides
food hampers and frozen meals. http://www.ccos.com.au
Food hampers and frozen meals are also available from
The Entrance Neighbourhood Centre cnr Battley and
Oakland Aves, The Entrance.
Wyong – Food hampers available from Wyong
Neighbourhood Centre, Wyong Town Park on the hill
and also from St Vincent De Paul.
www.wyongneighbourhoodcentre.org.au
Emergency food relief is also available from Salvation
Army and Samaritans Gorokan, Toukley and San
Remo Neighbourhood Centres.
www.facebook.com/salvationarmytuggerahlakes
http://www.samaritans.org.au/location/gorokan-emergency-relief/
http://www.tnc.org.au/p/contact-name-toukley-neighbourhood.html
http://sanremo.org.au/portfolio-view/san-remo-neighbourhood-centre/
Sharing your knowledge helps strengthen and grow our
local community.
Fiona Crain
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